Page 78 of The Search

“You’re a masochist?”

“No.” He picked up his glass and lifted it in a toast. “I’m a friend.”

She stared at him.

“Resign yourself. It was bound to happen after the time we’ve spent together and now, we’ve exchanged confidences. That seals it. I’m very impressionable. Don’t worry. I’m not going to demand anything of you. Just pretend I’m a dog or a wolf.”

She didn’t know what to say.

“It’s okay, Sarah,” he said gently. “Really.”

It wasn’t okay. She felt awkward and uneasy and oddly . . . warm. “Are you trying to kid me?”

He started to stack the cards. “No way.”

Two days later Logan got a call from one of the security men camped out in the foothills.

“Okay. No, just keep watch. I think I know who it is.” He turned to Sarah. “We have a visitor. He should be here within a few minutes.”

She stiffened. “Rudzak?”

He headed for the door. “I think it may be your friend Madden.”

“What?” She followed him. “Why the devil should he come here?”

“If Margaret did her job, he should be hopping mad.” He shaded his eyes to watch the approaching Buick. “Though I expected him to call you, not come here.”

“Why should he be mad?”

He grinned. “It was taking too long to find the dirt on the prick so I hit him where it hurts. The wallet. He has an election coming up, and I called two of his biggest campaign contributors a few nights ago and persuaded them to drop their support. Then I had Margaret call Madden and tell him that would only be the beginning if he didn’t persuade ATF to sell you Monty.”

Her mouth fell open. “I’ll be damned.” Her gaze went to the Buick. “No wonder he’s here.”

“Like I said, I thought he’d call.”

“No, that’s not Madden. If he’s frustrated, he’s going to want to strike out and see my pain.”

“Go inside. I’ll talk to him.”

She shook her head. “Stop trying to protect me. He’ll be ugly, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.” She braced herself as the car screeched to a halt before the front door. She hoped she was telling the truth. Madden was an expert at inflicting pain, as she’d learned all those years ago. But she wasn’t that young, inexperienced girl any longer. She stepped forward as Madden got out of the driver’s seat. “I told you never to come here again, Madden.”

“You bitch.” His face was flushed with anger. All the smoothness he usually showed Sarah was gone. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“A little more respect, please,” Logan said softly. “And I think you’re aware of what we’re doing.”

Madden’s gaze shifted to Logan. “And what are you doing here? I did you a favor, dammit. You were supposed to help me.”

“Circumstances changed. As a politician, you know how empty promises can be. Have you called ATF?”

“I won’t be pressured by you.”

“If you want to keep your seat in the senate, you will. We’ve only just begun to play. I’ll stop your contributions cold and if you’ve even jaywalked, I’ll find out about it and put it on every front page in the country.”

“You son of a bitch.”

“I want this, Madden. Give it to me and I may let you survive to run again.”

“May?”